PS 3503 
. fi5587 
M35 
1921 
Copy 1 



E5\ 



What Happened 
At Brent's 



-BY- 



LINDSEY BARBEE. 




PRICE 35 CENTS 



Eldridge Entertainment House 

Franklin, Ohio 21^ Denver, Colo. 



944 So. Logan Street 



4 



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ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

FRANKLIN, OHIO, also 944 S. Logan, DENVER, COLO. 



WHAT HAPPENED 
AT BRENT'S 

A pray For Young People 



By 
LINDSEY BARBEE 



Copyright 1921, Eldridfce Entertainment House 



Published by- 



ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE, 

FRANKLIN, OHIO DENVER, COLO. 

DEC (9 1921 '^ 



fS>3S'03 



CAST OF CHARACTERS^ ^^ ' 

(Named in order of appearance) 

NED Court Jester 

ELLEN Custodian of the Rd^/al Seal 

REX His Majesty 

JOE Royal Guard 

ANNE Royal Scribe 

BESS Keeper of the Royal Jewels 

MAY Mistress of the Royal Wardrobe 

ARCH Guardian of the Royal Exchecquer 

MRS. BRENT . . . Head of Commissary Department 
THE LITTLE PRINCESS 

Time — Hallowe'en. 

Place — Living Room in the Brent Home. 
Time of Playing — About an hour and a 
quarter. 



SYNOPSIS FOR PROGRAM 

ACT I — A Hallowe'en revel — the excitement of a 
runaway — the thrill of a hidden treasure — and then — ^the 
Princess ! 

ACT II — The story of the princess — ^her miniature 
court — the linding of the treasure — and then — Rita Rose! 



COSTUMES 

The girls wear pretty, girlish frocks — ^preferably 
light in color; Mrs. Brent is in a simple house gown of 
darker hue ; the little princess is more elaborately dressed 
in velvet and lace — with long cape and plumed hat. 



©CI.D 59435J /? 



-v« t 



PROPERTIES 

Davenport. 

Three chairs — one with cushion. 

Hassock. 

TnMe with lamp, bowl of apples and ruler in drawer. 

Curtains for windows. 

Candelabrum for mantel. 

Pictures, rugs, etc. 

Auto horn for off stage. 

Plate of doughnuts. 

Tray of glasses and pitcher of cider. 

Cape and hat for Princess. 

Bible for chair and money for Bible. 



SCENE PLOT 




STAGE DIRECTIONS 

R. means right of stage ; C, center ; U. E., upper en- 
trance ; up stage, away from footlights ; down stage, near 
footlights. The actor is supposed to be facing the aud- 
ience. 



STORY OF THE PLAY 



At a gay Hallowe'en party, at which Rex and Ellen 
Brent are hosts, the usual diversions hold sway, coupled 
with gay chatter in which the chief subjects of discussion 
are a young movie actress who stars in charming chil- 
dren's films and a little foreign princess who has been 
placed in an American school and who, supposedly, has 
been kidnaped by kinsmen for political purposes. Plans 
for coming high school days are being discussed and it is 
discovered thy.t Rex, for financial reasons, must go to 
work, which leads to the story of the eccentric old uncle, 
whose home Mrs. Brent and the two children had shared 
and who had promised to educate them. The sudden death 
of the uncle without a will, with no money in bank and no 
apparent funds, had changed plans, and would force Rex 
to assume financial responsibilities; and a thorough 
search of the house had revealed no hiding place for the 
money which the old man was known to possess. 

Suddenly, a knock at the door is heard, and there on 
the threshold stands a daintily gowned little figure, who, 
with the story of her disappearance fresh in their minds, 
is hailed by the children as the princess. Immediately 
the princess establishes her court; and while knighting 
her loyal followers, climbs upon an old deep-seated chair 
which had been the cherished possession of the uncle, and 
feels the seat give way beneath her. There, hidden below, 
is an old book, the uncle's Bible, and as the princess 
draws it out and opens it, she finds between its leaves the 
greenbacks which the old man had feared to trust to a 
bank and which he had carefully hidden away. And if 
this were not excitement enough, the mysterious visitor 
announces that she isn't the princess after all; that she 
had been playing a part and that, in reality, she is the 
movie actress whose face has been so often flashed before 
them. 



What Happened At Brent's 



ACT I. 

Hallowe'en — if it's a really, truly, made-to-order 
Hallowe'en — should be rainy and blowy and thundery^ 
with an occasional flash of lightninr/; fit iveather for the 
naughty spirits who choose this night for their revels. 
Accordingly, as the curtain rises upon a darkened stage^ 
the rain is dashing against the windmvs, the thunder i» 
crashing and the lightning is flashing; and the rosy glow 
of the gra,te fire, as it brings into relief the four girlti 
grouped before it, is all the cozier and more inviting for 
the contrast. In the center of the stage, three boys are, 
stretched prone upon the floor, and one of thqm ivho an^- 
swers to the name of NED is relating — in a sepulchral) 
tone — a genuine, appropriate-to-the-day ghost story. 

Ned — And as the clock struck twelve, a long, mourn- 
ing cry was heard ; and then — down the low dark corridor 
came a tall, white figure. It had a floating veil; it car- 
ried a flickering candle; and even as it glided noiselessly 
along there came the clank of heavy chains — 

Ellen — (jtimping up from her place before the fire) 
Stop right there, Ned, for even if it is Hallowe'en, we 
dont care to be scared out of our wits. (Determined to 
eliminate any ghostly atmosphere, she lights the lamp on 
the nearby table and floods the room with radiance.) 



What Happened at Brent's 



(It is a pretty, home-like room with cheerful rugs, a 
fmo good pictures, and dainty lohite draperies at the two 
windows which are at the hack of the stage, and between 
which is a long, old-fashioned davenport. At the upper 
left of stage, a door leads to another part of the house, 
and down left is a low mantel and an open grate with sim- 
ulated fire. On the mantel is an antique candelabrum 
with dangling, many-hued prisms. Another door at up- 
per right opens on aii outside porch and dotvn right is a, 
large table with lamp and books and a bowl of large red 
apples. At right of tabic is a small, straight chair; ab 
left of table an upholstered rocking chair ivith hassock^ 
Off in the upper right hand corner of the room is a largd 
old-fashio7ied arm chair with a worn cushion over its carte 
seat. NED, JOE and, REX at center are blinking at the 
sudden ilUmiination, while ANNE, BESS and MAY, to 
judge by their relieved expressions, most heartily approve 
of ELLEN'S move.) 

Rex — Oh, pshaw, Ellen! Now, you've spoiled the 
story. Who ever heard of a self-respecting ghost in a 
brightly lighted room? 

Ellen — Who wants a ghost? It's my party, Rex 
Brent, just as much as yours, and I'd rather have the 
Ijght. So would the other girls. 

Joe — Of course they would, Fraidy-cats! 

Anne — (7vith dignity) Even if you think we're 
fra-idy-cats, Joe, it isn't nice to tell us so — especially at a 
party. 

Bess — (anxiously) Don't you think we'd better pull 
down the curtains, Ellen? 

Ellen — Why, Bess, how silly! The light looks so 
cheerful to anyone who may be passing that it would be 
mean to take it away. 

May — Now, go on with the story, Ned. 

Ned — Not much. Miss Ma/y. You girls have spoiled 
it. 

Ellen — (taking the bowl of rosy-cheeked apples) 
Then I apologize by giving you the very first apple. (As 



What Happened at Brent's 



he grudgingly takes it.} Who knows of any other Hal- 
lowe'en stunts? (She passes the apples to the others.) 

Anne — (as she rises and crosses to the small chair at 
the table.) Let me see. We've ducked for apples, we've 
told fortunes — 

Joe — Fortunes! You may call them fortunes, Anne, 
but / call them misfortunes. 

Anne — (us she seats herself) We can't help what the 
cards say, Joe. 

Ellen — (replacing the botvl on table and sitting be- 
tween Bess and May) And if the future isn't kind to you, 
I'm sure that it isn't our fault. 

Bess — ( thoughtfully ) We've roasted chestnuts — 

Joe — And named them for boys. Thunderation ! 

(Rises and goes to davenport.) 

May — And we've had ghost stories. 

Ned — (sarcastically) Oh, have you? I don't remem- 
ber any except mine— and I wasn't allowed to finish that. 
(Rises and seats hi7nself by Joe on davenpo7't.) 

Ellen — I don't suppose you girls would care to try 
that looking-into-a-mirror-at-midnight one, would you? 
(As the girls shake their heads vigorously) It's too 
scary. 

Rex — And you wouldn't find any of us kids looking 
over your shoulder, either. (Rises and joins the other 
boys.) 

Anne — (sarcastically) What nice escorts! 

Joe — You're one too many for us. Wait until Arch 
comes, and we'll break even. 

Bess — Where is Arch, anyway? (Rises and sits in 
large chair at table.) 

]^ed — Had to do an errand and couldn't make the 
party till late. 

Rejc — Bet he stopped at a movie. 

Ellen — Rex! He wouldn't do such a thing when we 
have invited him her el 



What Happened at B7'ent's 



Rex — Even with a Rita Rose picture in to^v^l? 

Ellerir—'Rita. Rose! She isn't in town, is she? 

Joe — Her latest pict\ire is — which amounts to the 
same thing. 

Ellen — Oh, dear! 

Rex — It's here for a week — so don't have a fit. 

Bess — What's the picture? 

Rex — "The Prince and the Pauper." 

Bess — (daspina her hands in ecstacy) Her verv 
best! 

May — How can you say that, Bess, when you re- 
member "Peter Pan"? I never saw anything more ador- 
able than that — 

A7ine — Except "Little Lord Fauntleroy." 

Elle7i — 1 don't know which is 77iy favorite — I love 
them all. 

Ned — I'ou girls are sure nutty over that movie act- 
ress, Rita Rose. 

May — And so are you boys. Own up to it. 

Joe — (condescendingly) Of course we like to see her 
pictures — 

Bess — Like to see her pictures? Well, rather. Every 
night in the week. 

Ellen — And Rex even has a photograph of her in his 
room. 

Rex — Well, why shouldn't I? She's like the girls we 
read about — not the ones we know. 

Anne — She's no girl. 

Joe — How do you know? 

Anne — i read all about her. She's twenty-five! 

Joe — (whistling) (jOsh! but she's well preserved. 

Anne — And her hair is dark and curly — just as it is 
in the pictures. 

May — And she's small — ever s» snail. 



What Happened at Brent's 



Ned — I've heard something about her that beats 
your news all hollow. 

Afaj/— What's that? 

Ned — She's here. 

Bess—Rere'! Where'^ 

Ned — Where do you raippose? Here^ 

Anne — What on earth is she doing here? 

Ned — Rehearsing for a picture. 

Ellen — In this place? 

N(ri — In a place farther up the river — a whopping 
big estate that belongs to a New York fellow. 

Bess — (excitedhj I I know where it is ! It has a dar- 
ling little lodge at the gate — and wonderful gardens — 
and little tea houses like those in Japanese pictures. 

Ned — That's the spot, all right. Well — if she hasn't 
already come, she's coming some time soon. 

May- — (almost in a lohisper) How — perfectly won- 
derful ! 

Joe — What good will it do you girls, I'd like to know. 

Bess — ^^\e may see her pass. 

Anne — Or maybe meet her. 

Ellen — And it will be somethirig to know that she is 
near! (And ovetcome by the possibilities of the treat in 
fiore for them, the four lapse into silence, gaze stead- 
fastly into space and forget that aught exists save Rita 
Rose.) 

Rex — Gosh! It would be fun to meet her! 

Joe — And to watch her act. 

Ned — And to I'un the car for her. 

(And, straightway, each one, lost in his own partic- 
iilar vision, forgets time and place and companions, and 
sees anly himself, hand in hand, tvith Rita Rose, sworn 
comrade, friend and ally. Aiid, into the hushed silence of 
the rapt company, comes a series of short, sharp knocks 
and an impatient voice is heard to call, "Let me in! Let 
me in!") 



10 What Happened at Brent's 

Rex — (starting up) It's Arch! 

Ellen — (running to him) Don't let him in this door, 
Rex. He's probably soaking wet. 

Rex — (opening the door) Beat it around to the 
front door. Mother will open it. (As he closes the door.) 
Pretty welcome for a fellow, I must say. 

Joe — Too bad if we kids can't say what we want to 
each other by this time. How long has it been since we 
started out together? 

Ned — Long enough to have our last tussle with 
arithmetic and grammar. Gosh — but I'll be glad to get 
into high school. 

Joe — Who won't? Going to try out for football, Rex? 

Rex — (after a pause) I won't be there to try, 

Ned — What do you mean? 

Rex — Just what I say. I'm not going to high school. 

Joe — And why, I'd like to know? 

Rex — Because — I've got to work. (As he crosses to 
door at left.) I'll hunt up Arch and hurry him along. 
(Exit.) 

(For a moment there is a painfid silence. Then Ellen 
steps forward and ivith an effort volunteers an explana- 
tion.) 

Ellen — Boys, you mustn't talk high school to Rex. It 
makes it all so hard when he can't go, too. 

Bess — But, Ellen — why can't he go? I thought that 
your uncle — 

Ellen — (perching on the arm of Bess's chair) Every- 
body thinks that uncle left us money. But if he did, we 
haven't been able to find it. 

May — But the home — 

Ellen — Oh, that's ours, of course — ^we're his only rel- 
atives. But we can't live without money — ^so that's why 
Rex has to work. 

Joe — (coming to center and standing vnth his hands 
in his pocicQts) Wouldn't his money be in the bank? 



What Happened at Brent's 11 



Ellen — Uncle didn't believe in banks. (Pauses.) He 
always hid his money. 

Anne — (excitedly) Then — it may be hidden in this 
very house! Have you looked? 

Ellen — (smiling wearily) Looked? We've looked 
everywhere, 

Ned — (who has joined Joe and stands with his arm 
about his shouldeir) It seems funny that he didn't tell you 
about any hiding place — 

Ellen — He tried to tell us something, just before he 
died. But it was too late. 

Joe — (reflectively) He was a nice old fellow — always 
good to us kids. 

Ellen — Uncle was a dear. We miss him dreadfully, 
and we can't bear even to use his old chair now that he's 
gone. (She points to the old chair at upper right of the 
stage.) 

Ned — (excitedly) Have you looked in the cellar? In 
stories, the treasure is always hidden in a chest, way off 
under the beams in the darkest part of an underground 
passage. 

Ellen — (shaking her head) There isn't any chest in 
our cellar; and anjrv»/ay we've looked — just everywhere — 
in every crack and corner — and even in the fruit room. 

Joe — What about the attic? An attic is always a 
bully place. 

Ellen — We've been all through the attic; we've even 
taken up some of the planks in the floor, thinking there 
might be a box underneath. 

May — (turning around and facing the fireplace) I 
know! It must be in the fireplace. Don't you remember 
how the mysterious paper always tells you to count so 
many bricks to the right — so many up and down — so 
many to the left — 

Ellen — But there isn't any mysterious paper — and 
anyway, the fireplace has all been torn apart. Nothing's 
there. 



a What Happened at Brent's 

Anne — But there must be some place you haven't 
looked — ^there just must be. (Starts up.) And we've just 
got to find it. 

Bess — Indeed we have. You'll help — won't you boys? 

Ned — You bet we will. (Emphatically.) Rex Brent 
is going to high school with us. 

Ellen — (clapping her hands) How splendid of you 
to say so I It makes me feel so much happier about every- 
tliing. (And at this moment, the door at upper left opens 
cmd Rex enters ivith Arch.) 

Arch — ^Hello, everybody ! (Immediately, all but May 
croivd around him and. gaily greet him.) 

May — I'm too lazy to get up Arch. Come over and sit 
by me. (As he laughingly obeys, Bess and Anne, togeth- 
er vrith Joe oAid Ned, repair to the davenport while Ellen 
sits left of table icith Rex on the arm of her chair.) 

Ellen — Anybody who is late to a party ought to give 
an account of himself. 

Arch — I had to go on an errand. Didn't Rex tell 
you? 

Ellen — The errand didn't take all this time, did it? 

Arch — No — but — (hesitates.) 

Ellei}r—EuX^\s\iiit ? 

Arch — You couldn't expect me to miss all the excite- 
ment. 

Joe — What excitement ? 

Arch — Town's pretty well stirred up. 

Ned — Over what? 

Arch — (impressively) People standing on comers — 
hanging out of windows — talking — and yelling — and — 

Anne — Tell us this minute ! 

Arch — Shouldn't wonder if the whole neighborhood 
would turn out to help hunt. 

Bess — Hunt what? (Angrily.) It's mean of you 
not to tell us. 



What Happened at Brent's 13 

Arch — ( teasingly) How do you know that there's 
anything to tell? 

Rex — Stop your kidding, Arch, and give it to us 
straight. 

Arch — Weil, the row's all about the little foreign 
princess who was put at that big school not far from 
here. 

Ellen — (excitedly) The Manor school. 

Arch — Just so. Well — she's escaped. 

Elle7i — Escaped? How could she? 

Arch — How do people usually escape? 

Bess — And why should she? 

Arch — How should I know? 

Anne — Why she has her own maid who is never sup- 
posed to leave her — 

May — And she is dreadfully important; has a little 
kingdom all her own — 

Ellen — With oodles of money — and a castle — and — 

Joe — W^ho on earth is this princess? 

Arch — Ask the girls. They seem to know all about it. 

Ned — Is it a joke of some kind? 

Bess — Joke? Not much. She's Princess Marghar- 
etta of some little bit of a kingdom somewhere way off. 

Anne — And she's an orphan — 

May — And she's just twelve years old — 

Bess — And she's been at the Manor school ever since 
September. 

Rex — What nonsense! Why should a real foreign 
princess come to America to be educated? 

Ellen — Just because it is America. She's always had 
an American governess, she speaks English perfectly, 
and the prime minister oi whoever acts as her guardian, 
decided that she should have a year at an Americaa 
school. (Decisively.) I read all about it. 

Arch — That's straight goods, fellows. She is a real 
princess — she's at this school — and now she's lost. 



H What Ha ppened at Brent's 

Joe — Lost? You said she's escaped. 

Arch — Weil, isn't it the same thing? 

Ned — I should say not. She could be lost without 
wanting to be — but she couldn't very well escape without 
having some hand in it. 

Bess— (dreamily) The Manor school is the most 
wonderful place. It has a riding academy — 

Anne — And a little theater all its own. 

May — And the cunningest ball room you ever saw. 

Ellen — How heavenly! Why should she want to es- 
cape? 

jSied — (gloomily) It's school. Isn't that reason 
enough ? 

Arch — I should say so. Nobody could blame her for 
asking to be kidnaped. 

Bess — Kidnaped? 

Arch — Kidnaped is what I said. 

Joe — I- irst .she had escaped — ^then she was lost — and 
now she is kidnaped. You are some story teller. 

^7-c/i— Well, everybody seems to think that she's 
kidnaped. 

Anne — Who did it? 

Arch — The old guy who's running the kingdoni for 
her. If she can be put out of the way it goes to him. 

Bess— (tragically) Put out of the way? 

Arch — (importantly) Put out of the way is what I 
said. 

May — You mean — ^killed? 

Arch — I shouldn't wonder. 
E'Werir— Oh, how perfectly dreadful! 
^rcft— That's the usual method of getting rid of 
people who stand in the way, isn't it? 

Anne — That's what happened to Prince Arthur. 
B^s— And to the little boys in the tower. 



What Hap pened at Brent's 15 

Ellen — (jumping up suddenly, much to the disturb- 
ance of Rex's equilihriuin) Oh — it just mustn't happen 
to the little princess! 

(At this marnent, Mrs. Brent enters unth a pile of 
plates.) 

Mrs. Brent — Isn't it just about time for Rex and 
Ellen to bring the doughnuts and cider? (As Rex and 
Ellen leave the room, the hoys rise.) Or am I interrupt- 
ing some very special Hallowe'en rite? 

Anne — Not a bit of it. We're just excited over the 
fate of the little princess — that's all. 

Bess — Have you heard what happened, Mrs. Brent? 

Mrs. B. — (as she passes the plates) I've just heard. 
Perhaps it isn't so bad as it's rumored — for stories are so 
often exaggerated. (To May.) Can't you find a chair, 
my dear? 

May — I love to sit by the fire. (Pauses.) But I am 
getting a little cramped. (Rises and goes to chair right 
of table.) 

Mrs. B. — Aren't you all glad tonight that you are 
plain, everyday children with no coronets to bother you? 

Anne — (slowly) Oh — I don't — know. Being a prin- 
cess would be — oh, so wonderful ! 

Mrs. B. — Even if the princess had the misfortune to 
be lost on a dark and stormy Hallowe'en? (As Rex and 
Ellen enter, the former with a tray filled icith glasses and 
the latter with a plate of doughnuts.) Sit down, boys; 
for the doughnuts and cider are coming your way. (Rex 
and Ellen seroe the boys and girls.) And I shall be near 
enough to replenish any plate which happens to need it. 
(Exit.) 

(Rex and Ellen place the plate and the tray upon the 
table. Ainid great chatter and laughter, the girls and 
boys resume their former positions. Arch sits on the 
arm of Ellen's chair and Rex draics the hassock to May's 
feet.) 



16 What Happe^ied at Brent's 



Ellen— \ believe I'm outgrowing Hallowe'en cus- 
toms. They don't seem a bit thrilling any more. 

Arch — That's because they are silly. 

Ellenr—Then what sort of a celebration would you 
choose? 

Arch — A sure-enough, honest-to-goodness ghost — 

Ned — In a way-off, deserted old house, where there's 
been a murder. 

Bess — (shuddering) Ugh! You're crazy about 
ghosts, Ned. I'd rather meet a crooked old witch with a 
pointed hat, a black cat and a broom stick. 

Ned — There ain't no such animal. 

Anne — And / should like to change all the ugly little 
Hallowe'en devils into pretty, sparkly fairies. 

Joe — Well, I choose to have an adventure — a real ad- 
venture — like being out in a storm, rescuing somebody 
from falling from a precipice, saving her life — and — 

May — Saving /ler life? So, you'd want the some- 
body to be a girl. 

Joe — No fun in rescuing a boy. 

May — (inocldngly) Rita Rose, maybe! 

Joe — Sure ! It would be corking to rescue Rita Rose. 

May — It would be corking enough just to meet her. 

Joe — And, of course, after I'd rescued her she'd 
want me for leading man. Dead easy stunt. How would 
you like to see my face flashed all over the screen? 

May — We just couldn't stand it, Joe — nobody could 
stand it. (Leans over to Rex.) Did you ever hear of any- 
body being so silly? 

Rex — I never did. 

Joe — You're just mad because you didn't think of it 
first. 

Rex — Not much. I could celebrate Hallowe'en a lot 
better than that. 

Joe — (jeeringly) How — I'd like to know. 



What Ha/ppened at Brent's 



Rex — By coaxing some good-natured witch to tell us 
where uncle's money is hidden. 

(There is a moment's pause; then May pats him en- 
couragingly on the shoulder.) 

May — Don't you worry, Rex. You're coming back to 
school next year — I just know it. 

Ned — You bet you are, old fellow. 

(From without comes the distressed honk of an au- 
tomobile. Ellen places her plate on the fable and goes to 
the vnndorw, followed by Arch.) 

Ellen — It's a dreadful night. (Peers out the win- 
doiv.) I wonder if a machine is stalled. (Ttirns around) 
Oh, I just can't help thinking of the little princess — out 
in all this rain — lost — unhappy — and — 

(There is a rap at the door — o very decided rap. 
The children gaze at each other in. surprise.) 

Arch— I'll go. 

(As he opens the door, a picturesque figure steps 
over the threshold — a dainty maiden ivith golden curls, ci 
large plumed hat and a rain-spattered cape over a rich 
velvet dress. For a moment she stands irresolute.) 

Ellen — (gasping tvith excitem&nt) The — little — 
princess ! 

CURTAIN. 



ACT II. 

(The scene is the same — for only a moment of time 
has elapsed.) 

The Frincess — (hesitatingly, as she gazes at the be- 
wildered faces.) May — I — come — in? 

Ellen— (meeting her) Oh, please do. (pauses) 
We're so surprised to see you that our manners seem to 
have left us. 



18 What Ha ppened at Brent's 

Princess — (laughingly) No wonder you're surpriaed. 
I'm surprised myself. 

Ellen — You see, we've just been talking about you. 

Princess- — About me? 

Ellen — Everybody's talking about you tonight. 

(Timidly, Ellen takes the hand of the Princess, and 
leads her to the center of the stage. The boys and girls 
having placed- their plates and glasses in the ivindmvs and 
on the table, g^roup excitedly about them.) 

' Princess — What is everybody saying about me? 

Ellen — That you were kidnaped. 

Princess — Kidnaped ? 

Ellen — From the Manor school, you know. 

Bess — (eagerly) Were you? 

May — Or did you run away? 

Anne — And how did you get here? 

Princess — Oh, dear! Which question shall I answer 
first? 

Rex — Maybe it's safer for you not to talk. 

Ned — And not to let anyone know just who you are. 

Princess — And do you know just who I am? 

Ned — Why, you're Princess Margharetta, of course. 

Joe — We guessed that from the first. 

Ellen — And we've been wondering just how it all 
ha,ppened. 

Princess — How what happened? 

Ellen — Why, your escape. 

Princess — (looking anxiously around the circle) Are 
you — all — ^my — friends ? 

Arch — You bet we are! I've locked the door and I 
just dare anyone to get you out of this room. 

Princess— How splendid! Then I'll tell you all 
about it. 



What Happened at Brent's 19 



Rex — (drawing out the chair at left of table) Pleaae 
sit down. You're tired. 

Princess — (crossing to fireplace) May I have the 
chair — over here? I'm cold — and wet — 

Ellen — Of course you are. I'll take your cape and 
hat, and you can warm yourself. 

(Ellen carefully places the cape and hat on the dav- 
enport as Rex draws the chair in front of the fire. The^ 
Princess seats herself.) 

Princess — (holding her hands to the flame) Oh, how 
good it feels! (As they all stand awkwardly about) Won't 
you all sit down? 

Ned— -In story books nobody sits down while a prin- 
cess is in the room. 

Princess — But this isn't a* story book and unless you 
let me be one of you I cannot feel at home. 

Ned — We will do just as you say. 

Princess — Then — sit down! 

Ned — Here, Bess — (And he pulls the unresisting 
Bess to the chair which stands at the right of the table.) 
This belongs to you. (As Bess seats herself, with Anne 
perched on the arm of her chair, he sprawls at their feet)\ 

Arch—kndi here's a throne for May. (He pushes the 
old, unused chair from the upper right of stage to left of 
fable.) 

Joe — (dragging the hassock to center) And one for 
Ellen. 

(As the two girls laughingly seat themselves, Arch- 
perches on the arm of May's chair, ivhile Rex and Joe sit 
at the princess' feet.) *.- 

Bess — But it doesn't seem quite right to treat a 
princess just as we treat each other. 

Princess— But, I am not a princess— tonight. 
(Pauses.) And if you won't promise to forget that I am 
one— at other times— I -won't— (Pauses.) 



20 What Happened at Brent's 

Rex—Y^'oii't what? 

Princess — (smiling) Well, I won't play. 

Ned — You mean that you won't tell the story? 

Priyicess — Exactly. 

Ned — Then — fire away. 

Princess — Wnere shall I begin? 

May — 'W^ay 'way back — when you were in your pal- 
ace. 

Princess — (thought fully) My palace! It doesn't 
make me happy to remember my palace. 

Anne — Why, I should think a palace would be won- 
derful to live in ! 

Princess — (shaking her head) Not when it has cold, 
gray walls and long dark passages, where — sometimes — 
there is — murder. 

Anne — Oh! Oh! 

Princess — In one room there is a blood stain that 
won't wash off. 

Ellen — How perfectly awful ! 

Princess — And the picture gallery is full of staring, 
mocking eyes that follow me as I walk along. 

Bess — Poor little princess ! 

Princess — And when I sit in the big, gloomy dining 
room, I imagine that there are ghosts all about me; and, 
sometimes — I hear vr>icei4 in the darkness — and laughter 
— and — 

May — Oh, don't tell us any more. Please! 

Princess — (sadly) So, you see, people who wear cor- 
onets aren't always happy. 

Joe — (in awestruck tones) Do you wear your cor- 
onet all the time? 

Princess — Oh, dear.no! It's stupid and heavy — and 
I hate it. 

Ned — ^Weren't you pretty glad to come to America? 

Ellen — And to the school? It's such a beautiful 
school. 



Wkat Happened at BrenVs 21 



Princess — It's been the very happiest year of my 
life. 

Rex — Year? Why I thought you just came in Sep- 
tember. 

Princess — (hastily) It seems a year. That's what 
I mean. 

Arch — Then — why have you run away? 

Princess — Because — because — (loicering her voice) 
There's a plot against me. 

Joe. — (excitedly) A plot! 

Ellen — The prime minister? 

Princess — (blankly) The prime minister? 

Ellen — Isn't he the one who would rule the kingdom 
if— if— 

Princess — If i were out of the way? Exactly. He's 
my uncle. 

Bess — Your own uncle? 

Princess — (complacently) Oh, yes. Being a rela^- 
tive doesn't mean anything — at court. 

May — And he would really — kill you? 

Princess- -He'd love to do it. 

Ned — Gosh — but that's tough luck. 

Princess — I've a friend here — an old servant — who 
knew my father — and my mother. When / came — he 
came. He's very loyal. 

Rex — (excitedly) Go on with the story. 

Princess — And yesterday, he heard — no matter how 
— ^that my uncle was planning to steal me away. 

Arch — How could he? 

Princess — I don't know. But he always does what 
he plans to do. 

Princess — He'd hide me away — and pretend to hunt 
for me — oh, lie's clever — and then, after a time the throne 
would be his. 

Joe — (angrily) It's a darn shame. 



What HappeMed at Brent's 



Princess — (tossing her head) But I've tricked him. 
Ned^TeU us. 

Princess— For tonight — Leon — he's my friend, and 
he's a chafffFeur — v/aited for me near the school. I 
sh'pped out from study hall — and we got away. 

Ellen — Without anybody seeing you? 
Princess- -Yes. While they were hunting for us — 
we hid ; and now, we're on our way. 
Rex — Where ? 

Priwcess —That's for Leon to say. Just out there — ' 
(pointing off stage) the car came to a stand-still. I saw 
your light — and while he went for gasoline — I hurried 
here. (Pauses.) I'm glad I did. 

Ellen — And ive're glad, (excitedly.) We'll hide you 
here — all night. 

Princess — Oh, no! That wouldn't do. Leon will be 
back in a little while and then we must hurry on our way. 

Arch — Suppose thej'- catch you. 

Princess — They won't. 

Arch—But, if they did? 

Princess — Well — I'd go back to school, I suppose. 
Next week I'd try again — and — (laughing as she bends 
forward) .this next time I'd expect all of you to help me. 

Rex — You bet we would. 

Princess — What a lot of loyal courtiers you are! 

Bess — (sixddenhj) Let's have a court — a play court 
— right here — with you for Queen. 

May — (clapping her hands) Oh, splendid! Will 
you, Princess? 

Princess — The very thing. Then, if I ever see you 
again — 

Anne — Don't say "if." We must see you again. 
Joe — (loho has been gazing steadfastly at the prin^ 
cess) I've seen you before. 

Princess — In the school yard, perhaps. 



What Happened at Brent's 2S 

Joe — I've never been near the school. 

Princess — Then, perhaps, my picture. It was in the 
paper. 

Joe — No, I never saw it in the paper. 

Princess — Then I just happen to look like somebody 
you know. 

Joe — No — I've seen yoit. I'm sure of it. (Pvazled.) 
But I can't think where. 

Princess- —Why bother about it? 

Joe — Oh, it will come to me. Those things always 
do. (Pauses.) Anyway, I've seen you before. 

Ned — (irupatiently) You're dreaming, Joe. Come 
back to earth. 

Ellen — And to Margharetta's court. (Pauses.) We 
are anxious ior your orders, Princess. 

Princess — Then you shall have them. Let me see. 
(After a moment.) I'll make you all my ladies-in-wait- 
ing. (Laughs.) And I don't even know your names. 

May — I'm May. 

Bess — And I'm Bess. 

Anne — And Anne. 

Ellen — And Ellen, at your service. 

Princess — Then, Lady May — (May rises and stands 
before her.) I name you Mistress of the Royal Ward- 
robe. (With a wave of the arm) Pass on. (May crosses 
to upper left of stage.) 

Princess — Lady Bess, (As Bess comes to her) you 
shall be Keeper of the Royal Jewels. (Bess joins May.) 
And, Lady Anne. (A7ine stands before her.) Our Royal 
Scribe. Pass on. (Anne joiiis the others.) And, as for 
you, Lady Ellen, (Ellen rises.) I make you Custodian of 
the Royal Seal. (Ellen joins the other girls.) 

May — (anxiously) Oughtn't we all to curtsy? Or 
to do something. Princess? 

Princess — (as she rises and faces them) You shall 
take the oath of fealty. ( Very solemnly.) Do you, Lady 
May, and you, Lady Bess, and you, Lady Anne, and you. 



24 What Happened at Brent's 

Lady Ellen, solemnlj' promise to heed our royal word, to 
serve our royal purpose and to attend our royal person? 

(An awkward silence ensues. The ladies-in-2caiting 
gaze questioningly at each other.) 

No(i — (disgusted) Can't you talk? 
Ellen — We do, Your Majesty. 

(Very stiffly and self-consciously, the new ladies-in- 
waitiyig make their curtsies.) 

Princess — (as she walks to the tabla) Now, if I am 
to bestow the accolade upon you boys, I need a sceptre. 

Rex — ifolloioing her) There's nothing around here 
that looks like a sceptre, (Suddenly.) Would a ruler do? 

Princess — (dubiously) Yes — it would, I suppose. 
(Rex, diving into the table draiver, produces the neces- 
sary ruler. J 

Ned — (as the princess holds it stiffly) Looks like a 
school to me. Teacher. 

Princess — (as she seats herself in the chair left of 
table) Then for that joking remark, young fellow, I 
shall dub you Court Jester. Bring up the hassock. (Ned 
obeys.) Now, kneel. (He kneels.) Sir Edouard — 
(striking him lightly on the shoulder) Arise. Your cap 
and bells will come later on. 

Ned — {as he rises) How can I be a Knight and a 
Court Jester at the same time? (Crosses back of table.) 

Princess — That isn't worth discussing. We need a 
Court Jester, and that's all that matters. Next. (As 
Arch kneels./ Your name? (He whispers it.) Sir Archi- 
bald — (she gives him the accolade.) Be thou the guard- 
ian of our Royal Excheequer. (He rises and stands at 
her left.) 

Joe— (whispering to Rex) What's that? 

Rex — Money, you nut? 

Princess — This seat is too low — it makes it awkward 
for me. I'll stand. (And suiting the action to the word, 
she throws aside the cushion and climbs upon the chair.) 



What Happened at Brent's 25 



Joe — My turn. (Kneels on the hassock.) My name's 
Joe. 

Princess — (bending over and touching his shoulder 
with the ruler) Arise, Sir Joseph. And proffer me the 
vow that you will be our constant protector and Royal 
Guard. 

Joe — (fervently) You bet I will. (Stands back of her 
chair.) 

Priiiccss— (gaily, as Rex kneels before her) Last 
knight of all, what shall I call you ? 

Rex — Rex, Your Majesty. 

Princess-— (as she toiiches him on the shoulder) 
Then, Sir Rex — (Jiesitates) — but, no — you can't be 
that, for Rex means king. (Suddenly. Then, suppose I 
make you a king and share my throne with you? (Flour- 
ishing the mler.) Arise, King Rex. 

(And King Rex arises, a little more hastily than his 
royal title deserves; for at this crucial moyyiqnt, a dull, 
ripping sound is heard, and, the Princess, after a wobbly 
effort to keep her balance, topples ungracefully against 
him.) 

Princess — Oh — oh — oh! I've broken your chair. My 
foot went right through the seat — and I'm afraid it's 
ruined. 

Ellen — (hurryi7ig to har, folloived by the other girls, 
who stand around the back of the chair.} It doesn't mat- 
ter, really it doesn't — for we don't use the chair, and — 

Princess — But it does matter, and I'm — oVi, so sorry 
about it. 

Rex — But it wasn't your fault — the old thing was 
just about ready to fall jipart. Hop up, again, and give 
me my crown. 

Princess — (a^s she looks closely at the chair) It's 
broken only in one place. Perhaps it can be mended. 

Rex — I'm sure it can. Don't worry. 



26 What Happened at Brent's 

Princess — But — look! Something's under the seat 
— hidden, 

Joe — (Imning over) By Jove, there is, sure enough. 

Rex — Push back the torn place, Joe. (Shoves has- 
sock to front of stage. J 

Princess — And let me take hold of — whatever it is. 
(A moment's pause.) Why, it's a book! 

Ellen — (breathlessly) It's uncle's Bible! 

Princess — (coming dovm stage) It is a Bible. How 
very strange for it to be hidden — there. (Girls and boys 
group on either side of her, urith Rex at her right and 
Ellen at her left.) 

Rex — Open it, please. 

(As the princess opens the book, there, across the 
page, lies a banknote.) 

Princess — It's — it's money ! fhi an aive-struck voice) 
Why, it's a thousand dollars. 

Arch — Hooray — ray — ray! It's the hidden money! 

Ned — Didn't I say that something would happen? 

Ellen — (excitedly, as the girls clap their hands) 
Turn another leaf. (And the princess turns another 
leaf) 

Princess — (i/i amazement) Another thousand dol- 
lars! (As she turns over other leaves.) And there's 
more — lots more — on almost every page! (To Rex.) Oh, 
what does it mean? 

Rex — It means school for me. 

Princess — School? 

ElUn — And — oh, so many other things! 

Princess — I don't understand. 

Ellen — It's my uncle's money, Princess; and we've 
been looking for it everywhere. 

Princess — It's been hidden — here? 

Rex — All this time. (Pauses.) My wish has come 
true. 



What Happened at B rent's 27 

Princess — (puzzled) What wish? 

Rex — That some good Hallowe'en witch would show 
me where the money was hidden. 

Princess — Am I a witch? 

Rex — I'd rather think of you as a fairy — a good 
fairy — 

Ellen — Who has brought us happiness. 

Princess — (softly) It's very wonderful to be able to 
bring happiness to anyone. 

May — Why, you've brought it to every one of us to- 
night. 

Anne — And if we could draw a magic ring around 
you, we'd never let you go. 

Joe — I don't know anything about a magic ring — but 
I'm pretty sure of one way we can keep her. Come on — 
let's join hands — and — 

(With much laughter, they grasp hands and circle 
gaily around the princess as she stands ivith the hook in 
her hands. Suddenly she pushes her way through the cir- 
cle, lays the hook upon the table and stands at lower right 
of stage.) 

May — (following with Bess) Why, Princess — 
what's the matter? 

Bess — Have we been too noisy? 

Anne — Oh, I hope we haven't offended you in any 
way. (Stands with Ellen at loiver left of stage.) 

Ne4 — (coining hack of girls to the princess' right} 
You see, we think you're bully. 

Joe — (at center) You bet we do. 

Rex — (as he and Arch cross to Anne and Ellen) And. 
if you ever need any help you can just count on every one 
of us. Isn't that so, Ellen? 

Ellen — Oh, indeed it is! And mother will want to. 
thank you for all you've done. (Starts to door.) I'll call 
hor. 



28 What Happened at Brent's 



Princess — (raising her hand) Wait — ^just a mom- 
ent. (Ellen twnis.) What would you say if I should tell 
you that I'm not really the princess? 

Ellen — But you are tlie princess. 

Joe — You must be. 

Arch — (scornfully) Can't you see that she's joking? 

Princess — I'm not joking. (Patises.) For I'm not 
the princess. 

May — But you said — 

Princess — Yes, I said —lots of things. 

Bess — And the chauffeur — and your uncle — 

Princess — And the palace — and all the rest of it. 

A7me — How could you have known all this unless 
you were the real princess? 

Princess — At the present moment the real princess 
is safe in the Manor school. (Coynes doum stage right of 
center. J 

Ellen — What do you mean? 

Princess — That she was found shortly after the sto- 
ry of her kidnaping was spread abroad. 

Ned — Found — ivhere ? 

Princess — In the little lodge at the gate of the school. 

Arch — What was she doing there? 

Princess — Having tea with the keeper's wife. By 
this time she is safe in bed — where she ought to be. 

May — How do you know all this? 

(Bess and May cross to the table.) 

Princess — Because t was near by when she was 
found. 

Ned — And — so- -you're just make-believe? 
Princess — Just make-believe. I'm a fraud. 
Rex — I don't care what you are — ^you're bully! 

Princess — Then, can you ever forgive me for de- 
ceiving you? 



What Hap'pencd at Brent's ■ 29 

Bess — What made you do it? 

Princess — My gasoline did give out — my chauffeur 
did leave me here — and when I found you thought me the 
princess — 1 couldn't help playing the part. 

Joe — Then — wJio are you? 

Princess — Can't you recognize me, Joe? You have 
seen me before — all of you have seen me before. 
May — Have we, really? 

Princess — Suppose I should remove these golden 
curls — it's only a wig, you know — and show you that my 
hair is dark and curly. 

Joe» — Go on. 

Princess — And, suppose I should dress — well — as 
Peter Pan? 

May — (ecstatically) Oh-h-h ! 

Princess — Or, as — Lord Fauntleroy. 

Joe — (shouting) You're Rita Rose! (Stands at her 
left.) 

Princess — (laughing j I'm Rita Rose! 

(There is a moment'^ silence^. Bess leans against the 
table for support; May sinks into the chair left of table; 
Ned drops upo7c the hasiock. Attto horn sounds outside.) 

Arch — You can't be. 

Princess — Oh, yes I can — much more easily than I 
can be the princess. 

Anne — But you're dressed like a little girl. 

Princtss- — Why shouldn't I be? (Anne comes to her.) 
I'm a little girl in the picture I'm rehearsing, and what's 
more, I'm a little princess. 

Arch — You're rehearsing — here? 

Princess — Just up the river. Tonight it was late 
when we finished, so I didn't stop to dress, but threw a 
tape over my princess gown, and hurried off, (Pauses.) 
Now, will you forgive me? 



30 What H appened at Brent'B_ 

Joe — Forgive you? Why, having Rita Rose is lots 
better than having a princess. 

Princess — (as she glances at the girls) I'm afraid 
that all of you don't feel that way. 

May — "Well — of course it ivas romantic to have a 
real princess — 

Bess — (sighing) And, we'll never again have the 
chance of being ladies-in-waiting. 

Anne — (i7idignantly) But think of the chance to 
have Rita Rose ail to ourselves. 

Ellen — And just remember what she has found for 
us. 

Ned — Girls are such geese! What good would a 
princess do us, anyway? 

Rex — (glomnily) What good will Rita Rose do us? 
(Crosses back stage.) She'll be going in a minute — and 
we'll never see her again. 

Princess — (turning) Oh, yes you will! Don't think 
that you're getting rid of me quite so easily. (Holds ov.t 
her right hand.) 

Rex — You mean — (takes her hand.) 

Princess — That I refuse to give up my new-found 
friends all of a sudden. (Takes Joe's hand.) 

Joe — ^You'll come back? 

Princess — Oh — lots of times. And some day you 
shall all go out where I am rehearsing and watch the pic- 
ture, and liave tea with me afterwards. 

May — (as they stand in thrilled sileyice) Isn't it all 
wonderful ? 

Bess — More wonderful than having the princess — 

Ellen — But she is the princess — our princess — she'll 
always be our princess. 

(Again, from without, comes the honk of an automo- 
bile, this time, sharp, urgent and prolonged.) 



What Happened at Brent's 31 



Princess — There's I-eon. (Laughing.) You see, 
Leon is his name. 

Ned — Must you go? 

Princess — 1 must. Will one of my knights bring- my 
hat and my cape? (A frantic dash results in Arch 
bearing away the desired raiment.) And my Court Jest- 
er shall see me to the door. (Arch folds the cape around 
her.) While Sir Joseph and King Rex must act as my 
body guard to the car. (The boijs station themselves on 
either side of the door as Arch opens it.) 

Ellen- - (cowdng close) Then, it isn't goodbye — is it, 
Rita Rose? 

Princess — (a^ she places an arm around her) Never 
goodbye — for friends. 

Anne — (on the other side) And it's been such a won- 
derful Hallowe'en. 

May — (by Anne) With rain, thunder and lightning, 
and — 

Bess — (by Ellen) With a hidden treasure — 

Anne — With somebody lost — 

May — (dramatically) And somebody found — 

Ellen — And then, just when everybody was most ex- 
cited — 

Princess — A strange thing did happen at Brent's. 

(Laughingly, she runs from them, takes Arch's out- 
stretched hand, and goes through the open door, followed 
by the merry boys. Ellen closes the door, and the four 
girls ru^h to the window and peer eagerly out.) 



CURTAIN. 



(f^ 



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The Man Haters; 11 f . 4 m 35c 

Vinegar's Vaudeville Agency; Number 35c 

The Millionaire Janitor; play for boys 35c 

In Dixie Land; male characters 35c 

Up Caesar's Creek; boys' play 35c 

Christmas Plays 

Christmas at Finnegan's Flat 25c 

Christmas at Golden Gulch 25c 



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